Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced additional financial assistance of Rs 1,600 crore for Punjab, supplementing the Rs 12,000 crore already allocated to the state. He also approved the advance release of the second instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, emphasising a multi-dimensional approach to help affected regions recover.

Modi conducted an aerial survey of flood- and landslide-affected areas in Himachal Pradesh and later held a meeting in Kangra with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, BJP leaders, affected families, and rescue personnel. He assured all possible assistance for rebuilding homes under PM Awas Yojana, restoring national highways, reconstructing schools, providing relief through PMNRF, and distributing mini kits for livestock.

Ex-gratia compensation was also announced: Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Modi highlighted measures to support farmers, geotagging of damaged homes for timely aid, and construction of recharge structures for water harvesting to improve groundwater levels.

Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses of Rs 4,122 crore due to cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides since June 20. The state has recorded 370 deaths, including 205 from rain-related incidents, 41 people remain missing, and thousands of houses, shops, and lands have been damaged. Modi lauded the efforts of NDRF, SDRF, the Army, and state administration in relief work and assured that the Centre will coordinate closely with the state government to restore infrastructure and normalcy.

A photograph of the Prime Minister holding 11-month-old Neetika, the lone survivor of her family, went viral, highlighting the human toll of the calamity.